Set in the tumultuous 1930s, the story follows Blondie O'Hara, a small-time crook's wife, who concocts a desperate plan to save her husband Johnny from the clutches of the infamous gangster, Seldom Seen. Johnny is caught trying to rob one of Seldom's gambling dens, and his life hangs by a thread. Blondie kidnaps Carolyn Stilton, the laudanum-addicted wife of a prominent politician, with hopes that this hostage will force the powerful man to use his influence to free Johnny. As Blondie and Carolyn navigate the violent and racially charged streets of Kansas City, Carolyn's addiction and fragile state complicate their harrowing journey.

Meanwhile, Seldom Seen, a cunning and ruthless figure in the underground scene, plays his own dangerous games of power and survival amidst rising tensions. The narrative intricately weaves the intersecting lives of Blondie and Carolyn with Seldom's ruthless world, painting a vivid picture of the social and political unrest of the era. A looming sense of danger and inevitability shadows each character's moves, creating an intense atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty. Each action taken by Blondie to secure her husband's release heightens the stakes, leading to a climactic convergence of their fates.